Cleaning comb with matter collecting means

ABSTRACT

A comb for clearing hair from adhered matter, particularly lice and nits, the comb comprising a plurality of needles defining a spacing between needles and at least one matter collecting channel running along a combing side defined by the needles, the channel without extending into the spacing between needles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention.

[0002] The present invention relates to a comb for cleaning hair and,more particularly a comb for clearing hair from lice, nits and othermatter adhered to hair.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art.

[0004] It is well known to provide steel-made combs comprised of aplurality of needles or tins that are arranged in such a manner thatforms two opposite sides for retaining the matter adhered to the hair,particularly lice, nits and eggs. The needles are arranged side-by-sideand are spaced enough to permit the hair passing between the needles butdefining a small spacing for preventing the lice or nits passing throughthe spacing without remaining trapped between the needles. However, allthese well known lice or nit combs fails to properly carry out thefunctions for which they were designed.

[0005] Among the several hair cleaning combs there are U.S. Pat. Nos.4,612,945, 4,671,303 and 5,873,374. U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,945 to Bachrach,discloses a comb having a handle portion and a plurality of teethextending from the handle portion and having a triangle-shapedcross-section, the teeth being arranged parallel to each other in twodifferent planes in order to achieve a scissors effect to detach liceand nits. However, the manufacturing steps for making triangle-shapedcross section teeth and for arranging the same into two different planesare cumbersome and costly. In addition, the scissors affect plus thetriangle cross-section of the teeth tend to damage the hair.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,303 to Saferstein discloses a nit combincluding a plurality of teeth with hook-shaped ends for removing liceand nits from the hair, however the comb fails to efficiently removedthe matter that are strongly attached to the hair because the spacingbetween teeth is too big and the peripheral surface of the teeth issmooth.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,374 to Sanz, discloses a cleaning comb withneedles that are rugged on their peripheral surface, with the ruggednessbeing provided in the surface by cutting an helical groove or severalparallel circumferential grooves. Either the helical or circumferentialgrooves extend around the entire peripheral surface of each needle thiscausing the grooves passing into the spacing defined between theadjacent needles. In other words, each groove passing through thespacing between two adjacent needles defines a clear pass for the matterthat should be retained between the needles. Thus, this comb fails toefficiently retain or remove any matter adhered to the hair, such aslice, nits or eggs, which are generally firmly attached to the hair. Inaddition, the grooves are formed by curved bottomed grooves that failsto detach or tear away the adhered matter because the grooves do notdefine abrupt or blunt changes in the peripheral surface of the needlebut soft curves that are not capable of efficiently detach the matter.

[0008] It would be therefore convenient to have a comb for cleaninghair, particularly for efficiently clearing the hair from matter firmlyadhered thereto, such as lice, nits and eggs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide ahair cleaning comb with improved characteristics for clearing the hairfrom any adhered matter and particles such as lice and nits.

[0010] It is still another object of the present invention to provide acomb for cleaning hair from particles attached thereto, the combincluding a plurality of needles, tines or teeth having an enhancedflexibility provided by a plurality of grooves improving the resiliencyof each of the needles.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combfor clearing hair from particles such as lice and nits, with the combincluding a plurality of needles including particles collector meansdefined in the periphery of the needles.

[0012] It is even another object of the present invention to provide acomb for cleaning hair, comprising a handle portion, a plurality ofneedles arranged side-by-side and defining a spacing between needlessmall enough to prevent the matter passing therethrough, the needleshaving a proximal portion retained in the handle and a distal portionincluding rounded leading ends defining a leading edge, the plurality ofneedles defining two opposite combing sides, and matter collector meansin at least one of the combing sides, the matter collector meanscomprising at least one channel running along the at least one combingside substantially close and parallel to the leading edge, the channelonly extending on the at least one combing side without extending intothe spacing between needles.

[0013] It is even another object of the present invention to provide acomb for clearing hair from adhered matter, particularly lice and nits,the comb comprising a plurality of needles defining a spacing betweenneedles and at least one matter collecting channel running along acombing side defined by the needles, the channel without extending intothe spacing between needles.

[0014] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thisinvention will be better understood when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention is illustrated by way of example in thefollowing drawings wherein:

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a top plant view of the comb according to the presentinvention;

[0017]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the comb of FIG. 12;

[0018]FIG. 3 shows an enlarged side view of a tooth according to anembodiment of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 4 shows a an enlarged side view of a tooth according toanother embodiment of the invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 shows an enlarged side view of a tooth according to anotherembodiment of the invention; and

[0021]FIG. 6 shows a cross-section taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Now referring in detail to the drawings it may be seen from FIG.1 a cleaning comb according to, the invention, indicated by generalreference number 1, with comb 1 comprising a handle portion 2, typicallycomprised of two metal plates joined together and retaining,therebetween, a plurality of teeth, tines or needles 3 also made ofmetal, preferably stainless steel. Needles 3 are arranged side-by-sideand define a spacing between needles of about 5 μm to about 100 μm. Thisspacing is small enough to prevent any particle or matter, such as lice,nits or eggs, passing therethrough during a combing operation. Inaddition, the plurality of needles define two opposite combing sides 6and 7, as it is shown in FIG. 2.

[0023] Needles 8 have a proximal portion, retained between the metalplates in the handle, and a distal portion preferably including roundedleading ends 4 defining a leading edge 5, preferably a slightly curvededge. The number of needles may be variable, but the comb preferablycomprises from about 10 needles to about 90 needles. The length of theneedles may vary according to the needs of the user, but it will bealways the necessary to comply with the function for which they weredesigned.

[0024] According to the invention, the comb is provided with matter orparticles collector means in at least one of combing sides 6, 7. Thecollector means comprises at least one channel 8 (FIG. 2) running along,or crossing, either combing side 6, or 7, or both, substantially closeand parallel to leading edge 5. According to the invention, the channelonly extends on the associated combing side without extending into thespacing between needles 4. Therefore, the spacing or gap between theneedles remain unaltered by the channel and the retention or removingeffect of the needles is kept without permitting or allowing theparticles or lice passing through this spacing as it may occur in thespacing between the needles of U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,374, which spacing isaltered by the ruggedness, particularly the grooves, passing through thespacing between the needles. In other words, the periphery of eachneedle is unaltered in the portion thereof facing or in contact with theperiphery of any adjacent needle in order that the spacing between theneedles keeps constant, that is a spacing designed for preventing thelice or nits passing therethrough.

[0025] Channel 8 is defined by a plurality of recesses 9, which recessesare aligned and formed, by cutting for example, in each needle 3.According to the invention, recess 9 is provided in the periphery of theneedle but only the portion of the periphery that forms part of thecorresponding combing side 6 and/or 7, whereby the recess of each needledoes not extend into the spacing between the needles. Preferably, eachneedle has a circular cross-section, preferably a cylindrical shape,defining a needle diameter of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm. Each recess 9,and hence channel 8, has a deepness which is about the 20% to about the25% of the needle diameter and a width of about 3 mm to about 8 mm. Asit is shown in FIG. 6, spacing between needles is indicated by referencenumber 14, and as shown, recesses 9 do not reach the minimum distance orspacing defined at the diameter section or equator section of theneedles, therefore, the spacing is not modified by the recesses.

[0026] According to the teachings of the invention, channel 8 has a Ushape cross-section (FIG. 2) with a bottom 10 and upright walls 11, 12extending from the bottom at right angles relative thereto. The bottomand the walls of the channel are preferably flat and the angles definedtherebetween and with the periphery of the needle are abrupt or blunt inorder to efficiently detach or remove the particles, lice or nitsattached to the hair, particularly the nits which are provided with acement or wax that adheres the nits to the hair.

[0027]FIGS. 4 and 6 show other alternative embodiments of the inventionwherein channel 8 is defined at both sides of the comb, namely atcombing sides 6 and 7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, both oppositechannels 8 are arranged at coincident opposite locations while in FIG. 5the channels are in off-set locations, which embodiment may be usefulwhen the diameter of the needle is insufficient to permit both channelsto be located in the same cross section.

[0028] The resiliency of the needles are also improved by the provisionof a plurality of grooves 13 with a spacing of about 3 mm to about 5 mmfrom each other, wherein each groove, like recesses 9, are provided onlyin the periphery of the needle that forms part of the associated combingside 6 and/or 7, whereby groove 13 does not extend into the spacingbetween the needles. Grooves 13 provide each needle with an extraresiliency to enhance the flexibility of the needles when combing thehair as well as they also help the needles to retain and remove theparticles.

[0029] Like recesses 9, Grooves 13 may be provided only at one combingside 6, or 7, or in both combing sides, as it is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.Grooves 13 may have any shape, such as a U-shape, or a V-shape notillustrated. The bottom of grooves 13 may be rounded or may have abottom and walls arranged at right or blunt angles.

[0030] In use, the comb of the invention is inserted into the hair of auser having matter, particles, lice, nits or eggs to be removedtherefrom. Once the comb is into the hair it is moved along the hair,whereby while the hair is free to pass through the spacing between theneedles the lice and nits are prevented from passing through thisspacing and are retained in the corresponding combing side with theparticles sliding over the nits until reaching channel 8 wherein theparticles are detached, if not detached until there, and collected intothe channel. Channel 8, more particularly the blunt bottom and wallsthereof, actuates like a shovel and/or a lever for detaching the licethat are firmly attached to the hair.

[0031] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that various changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:
 1. A comb for cleaning hair, comprising a handle portion, aplurality of needles arranged side-by-side and defining a spacingbetween needles, the spacing being small enough to prevent any particleadhered to the hair passing through the spacing, the needles having aproximal portion retained in the handle and a distal portion includingleading ends defining a leading edge, the plurality of needles definingtwo opposite combing sides, and matter collector means in at least oneof the combing sides, the matter collector means comprising: at leastone channel extending along the at least one combing side substantiallyparallel to the leading edge, the channel only extending on the at leastone combing side without extending into the spacing between needles. 2.The comb of claim 1, wherein the channel is defined by a recess in eachneedle, the recess being aligned and provided only in the periphery ofthe needle that forms part of the at least one combing side, whereby therecess of each needle does not extend into the spacing between theneedles.
 3. The comb of claim 2, wherein each needle has a circularcross section defining a needle diameter and the channel has a deepnessof about 20% to 25% of the needle diameter.
 4. The comb of claim 2,wherein the channel has a width of about 3 mm to 8 mm.
 5. The comb ofclaim 2, wherein the channel has a U shape cross section with rightangles being defined between a bottom and walls of the channel.
 6. Thecomb of claim 5, wherein the bottom and walls of the channel are flat.7. The comb of claim 1, wherein the spacing between needles is about 5μm to about 100 μm.
 8. The comb of claim 2, wherein each needle includesa plurality of grooves with a spacing of about 3 mm to about 5 mm fromeach other, each groove being provided only in the periphery of theneedle that forms part of the at least one combing side, whereby thegroove does not extend into the spacing between the needles.
 9. The combof claim 8, wherein the plurality of grooves provide each needle with anextra resiliency to enhance the flexibility of the needles when combingthe hair.
 10. The comb of claim 2, wherein each needle has a cylindricalshape with a diameter of 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.
 11. The comb of claim 1,wherein the comb is made of metal.
 12. The comb of claim 1, wherein theleading edge is a slightly curved edge.
 13. The comb of claim 1, whereinthe matter collector means is provided in the two opposite combingsides, the matter collector means comprising at least one channelextending in each combing side without extending into the spacingbetween needles.
 14. The comb of claim 13, wherein the channel in eachcombing side is defined by a recess in each needle, the recess beingprovided only in the periphery of the needle that forms part of thecombing side, whereby the recess of each needle does not extend into thespacing between the needles.
 15. The comb of claim 14, wherein eachneedle includes a plurality of grooves with a spacing of about 3 mm toabout 5 mm from each other, each groove being provided only in theperiphery of the needle that forms part of the at least one combingside, whereby the groove does not extend into the spacing between theneedles.
 16. The comb of claim 16, wherein the plurality of groovesprovide each needle with an extra resiliency to enhance the flexibilityof the needles when combing the hair.
 17. The comb of claim 8, whereinthe grooves and the channel are about {fraction (1/10)} to about{fraction (9/10)} mm. deep.
 18. The comb of claim 15, wherein thegrooves and the channel are about {fraction (1/10)} to about {fraction(9/10)} mm. deep.
 19. The comb of claim 14, wherein each needle has acircular cross section defining a needle diameter and the channel has adeepness of about 20% to 25% of the needle diameter.
 20. The comb ofclaim 14, wherein the channel has a width of about 3 mm to 8 mm and a Ushape cross section with right angles being defined between a bottom andwalls of the channel, wherein the bottom and walls of the channel areflat.